Can Apps Stop Your Teen from Texting While Driving?

Teenagers text everywhere they go. They text in class, at home, and sometimes even when they drive. Now there are new technologies and apps that may stop texting while driving. One product, called Cellcontrol, is relatively cheap. It is also potentially life-saving.

Cellcontrol costs about $7.95 a month for up to six phones, reports USA Today . It blocks use of cell phones while driving. Users install a small device into their car. The device will make your cell phone "lock up" when it detects movement. This means you can't text or browse the net.

You will only be permitted to make emergency calls until the car comes to a stop.

Cellcontrol is only one of many products that aim to curb distracted driving. There is software that specifically uses a car's GPS or Bluetooth to detect driving. There are also detection and jamming products that lock cell phone keys while a car is moving.

Texting while driving is against the law in many states. But even if there is no specific texting law in your jurisdiction, it could still be illegal. Texting while driving could amount to distracted driving, which is illegal in many jurisdictions.

Distracted driving is a growing issue. Fatal accidents that involve texting drivers have caused thousands of deaths. A study showed there were about 16,000 fatalities that could be attributed to texting between the years 2002 and 2007.

And this figure might be underreporting the problem. Oftentimes police officers need to rely on a driver's word when they investigate crashes.

Should parents invest in technology and apps that stop texting while driving like Cellcontrol? It's ultimately their decision to make. It could help prevent accidents if used properly.